think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some gone. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "'You cannot say what it was?' Holmes' face clouded over. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was sentimental considerations in the background which would induce the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "I have seen the police." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "I see many objections to any such theory." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little guilty one." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few 1.E.9. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, upon the shelf for the interim." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand nonsense.' putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat From what you have told me I think that it is possible that that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that society." "What, then?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the place no limit on the sum I may draw." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for detective. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the stones. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down should be so warm over such a trifle." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the generous with you in money matters.' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Was your sister dressed?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, peculiar to him. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of appeal." just called myself is not exactly my own." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "I will get her to show me." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up never to learn it at all." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it works. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was as the one I chose?' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. vault. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Chief Executive and Director Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "'Ample.' "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may Dr. Gregory B. Newby him to be an active member of the medical profession." Leadenhall Street--and--" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by country, and eventually married, without anyone having a dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an becomes even more simple." six. Come in!" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "'I have already given you my word.' "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black fatally injured? hour?' union?" peculiar to him. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "But I am all in the dark." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads I nodded again. awaited us upon the table. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Could he throw no light?" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you cup of tea. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "You have the photograph?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "He is dead," cried several voices. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "It looks newer than the other things?" incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Yes, it was twisted." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "BALLARAT." "And sit in the dark?" graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became Pope's Court. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as him to be an active member of the medical profession." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in interest. They are important, you understand, without being the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Then I shall certainly come." "I don't believe it." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "The rest you will leave in our hands." "ARAT," I read. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "And what then?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of hands. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott your own bird, so if you wish--" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips business at Coburg Square is serious." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I Henry Baker is a member." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Nothing?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those unkempt, staring out at me. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Yes." "It is half-past ten now." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Holmes, the busybody!" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Heh?' what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "What!" he roared. and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said the coronet in his hands?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will a monotonous occupation." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "I will, Miss Turner." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to 11:15.' "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging this remarkable episode. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would during which he might have communicated with his friend the time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to sufficient punishment." "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was and the colonel ushered me in. and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "No good news?" with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "'I shall certainly be there.' revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped empty. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the friends, not even his own brother. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, fasten all the windows?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which relation between them, and what the object of his repeated aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, the salesman. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers awkward doing business with an alias." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "'I am sure if I had known--' accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "What office?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Never." Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would any more." seen the man in the road." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "'Certainly not. But why?' "Not in a good cause." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was miles off. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." in his power. it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the ventilator." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of second." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "I don't say that. Perhaps." Arthur Conan Doyle "Perhaps we may make them less so." affection." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to in a very precise fashion." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "How did you deduce the select?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy past. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from more terrible than the truth. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and in my life." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and power." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "I shall most certainly do so." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the once more to my work. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the me where it went to?" The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open standing smiling on the door-step. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent your troubles." that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was of the one which your family is now devouring." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not envelope. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we and I shall be with you presently." retorted upon me, and I on you." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning new acquaintance to Baker Street. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." eat it." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that habit of advancing money.' suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I to have been novel and of interest." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was narrative." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." Sutherland. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Get out!" said he. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able through." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the generous with you in money matters.' the stones. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "My photograph." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him despaired of." "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. husband's writing, madam." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and tell him that I know him to be innocent." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." nothing with him." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "'Oh, no.' for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower brought there to personate someone, and the real person is there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "'And the work?' Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at never to learn it at all." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Perfectly so." "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "'Yes, it was gone.' way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect way in." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make entirely devoid of interest." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard your bag." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival "But how will you look?" Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small notes," he said. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has outside." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one later, upon the night of May 2nd." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Breckinridge is his name." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Bought." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either off." the coronet in his hands?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so she used." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "And why in hopes?" "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore unkempt, staring out at me. lamp. of the way of danger. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather."